Memo to Patriots' fans: Don't discount Amendola's abilities

By Bobby Doherty, Sun Correspondent

Posted:
03/20/2013 06:36:08 AM EDT

Updated:
03/20/2013 11:05:47 AM EDT

Danny Amendola may be a solid replacement for Wes Welker if he can stay healthy.

Out with the old and in with the fragile. The Patriots signed receiver Danny Amendola to a five-year $28-million dollar contract last week in the wake of Wes Welker signing on in Denver for a two-year deal worth $12 million a season.

That's all well and good, but the fact is Amendola has missed 22 games in his four seasons as a pro, all coming with the St. Louis Rams. Welker only missed three games in six seasons in New England

But Amendola can play. Take away the 2011 season where he only played one game and Amendola has averaged almost 64 grabs a season, playing on a bad team with not the greatest quarterback in Sam Bradford.

It seems plausible that Amendola will catch more than 64 passes with Tom Brady throwing the ball -- but he's still not likely to bring in over 100 with 1,000 yards like Welker did nearly every season.

On the plus side, Amendola has familiarity with Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who was the offensive coordinator in St. Louis in 2011.

Amendola is going from being the only guy who can get open in an offense in St. Louis to a potential third or fourth option in New England.

Maybe the link to McDaniels is key, we will find out.

Of course Welker will be missed and hard to really replace but Amendola has tons of potential and should make an immediate impact if he can stay on the field.

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Hopefully there are some big moves on the defensive side of the ball coming down the pipe to make this move look a little better.

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